Ho Chi Minh Statue

The tallest statue of Ho Chi Minh in all of Vietnam is located in the city of Vinh in the Nghe An province, the birthplace of the man himself, and is not far from his hometown in Kim Lien.

The statue is well over 50 feet (18 meters) in height including the pedestal and is located in the center of the city on the aptly named Ho Chi Minh Square. The square itself covers 11 hectares with fountains, green space, flagpole, lighting, and a stage for special events and concerts. Construction began in 2000 and the statue was inaugurated May 19, 2003 on what would have been Ho Chi Minh’s 113th birthday.

The structure is made of around 200 tons of copper-colored granite. Behind the statue is a jungle created from over 1,600 different species of plants and trees from all the different regions of Vietnam. The statue is guarded by soldiers and visitors are not allowed to go up the stairs. Visitors can only do so if they bring some flowers and remove their shoes.

The city of Vinh is somehow off the tourist radar but is still worth visiting just to witness this impressive monument.